One of my favorite stores to walk through is an office supply store. I love looking at all the different ways there are to get organized or finding something to help with efficiency. I even had a position as an office administrator for several years where part of my job was to make sure all the printing and office supplies were working as they should. I learned which brand and products were better than others. And so I wanted to share a list of some different products that have really stood out. Hopefully it will save you some of the time and money!
HATCHBOX 3D Printer Filament
If you have a 3D printer there can be some confusion about which printer filament will work the best. Just like with ink cartridges there are less expensive products, but depending on what you’re doing you can really notice the difference in quality. With 3D printers, this can be even more imperative because it’s not just about being able to print, but printing without problems. If you get a sub-pay printer filament, it can really make trying to print on your 3D printer a pain!
The FlashForge 3D printer is the one we use the most (and we love it by the way). We tried a few different brands of printer filament but now the only one we use is Hatchbox. This filament is also odorless and I’ve never had any moisture problems using it. It’s a good filament to use if you’re a beginner but it will also work fine if you’re more advanced. Overall the color is very strong and accurate.
With any of these types of products you’ll want to double-check to make sure you’re getting the correct one for your particular 3D printer. Of course if you have a FlashForge printer this should work great.
Standing Desk Anti-Fatigue Mat
Using a standing desk can be really nice. And it’s something I’ve started using more and more. Although it’s not something I will use all day long, I do like to have it as an option as something I can do to take a break from sitting, but still keep working. I currently use the the standing desk by VARIDESK and really like it. It’s height adjustable and is very functional to use.
But having a great standing desk will only get you so far if you start getting uncomfortable while you’re standing there. So a good mat to stand on makes a big difference in being able to stand comfortably for longer periods of time. Though I find even when I’m not at my standing desk for a long time, I still rather have a nice comfortable mat to stand on while I am using it.
The one that I’ve found works the best is also by VARIDESK. It’s their 5/8″ Non-Slip Anti-Fatigue Comfort Mat which is specifically designed for standing desks. It’s sooooo comfortable to stand on. I even got one for the kitchen because I liked it so much. This is one of those items that although technically you don’t need (like to use a standing desk), but once you use it and get used to using it you can’t image not having it to use anymore.
I also like that I’ve been able to use it for a long time without it becoming less comfortable. And that’s something to be aware of is that if you get a cheap standing mat, while it might be comfortable the first month or so, soon it will start to feel more and more firm. And then you’re having to buy a new mat again. So overall, I’ve been really happy with both the comfort and durability of this mat. It really is a great product.
Plantronics HL10 Handset Lifter
One of my favorite headsets of all time is the Plantronics-CS540 Wireless Headset. It’s been the perfect office headset for me to use. I used to work at a company where everyone used these type of headsets for work. While talking to a co-worker, she let me know about this handset lifter she got to go with it and how it made answering the phone a little easier and quicker.
So I decided to get one and give it a try. Wow, did it make a difference! It’s one of those little conveniences that the average person may not appreciate. But if you’re on the phone a lot, if you’re taking lots of calls and so forth then having a convenience like this is so nice to have. It allows you to be out of the room and answer and hang up calls while still being on your headset. And it’s so nice not having to reach for the phone every time you need to answer it.
It’s one of those wonderful little luxurious that’s not necessary to have, but if you can afford to spend a little on yourself to make life easier and more convenient, this is sure the way to go.
Philips OnSite/Home Adult Training Cartridge
This is one of those items that isn’t exciting to think about, but we used these at an office I worked at and I was so impressed with how well they worked I wanted to be sure and include them in this list. I don’t often think about office safety but it’s one of those things that can safe a life or at least reduce the potential damage done in a hazardous type situation.
And while these cartridges aren’t something you may use that often, I think they’re extremely helpful for teaching and training people in some basic safety protocols.
These actually work in conjunction with Philips OnSite Business Package which includes CPR, First Aid and other health information you may need or want to have in your office. It’s an incredible life saving package to have, but it doesn’t include the training cartridges. And at least for me personally, some of these life saving things can be rather intimidating so it’s helpful to be able to have as realistic a scenario as possible when practicing these things.
My perspective is that if I have a life saving device to use but I’m afraid to use it because I’m afraid I might do more harm than good, then the likelihood of my using it goes way, way down. So the training cartridges were extremely helpful in giving me the confidence to use this in the event that there’s a life saving situation I’m involved in.
